»Italian Americans in War

An interdisciplinary pathway that provides insight into cross-cultural experiences in times of conflict, “Italian Americans in War” presents a variety of research and learning opportunities by examining the experiences of Italian Americans military personnel during the Second World War through a trove of correspondence housed in the Chapman University Leatherby Libraries Center for American War Letters Archive (CAWL).

Dr. William Cumiford proposes a pathway utilizing this unique cache of primary documents that offers facilitate research and teaching materials in history, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, genealogy, and film studies.  Under Dr. Cumiford’s direction, the initial research will be conducted by undergraduate and graduate associates with additional institute faculty serving as a research advisors for the project. The CAWL Collection will be initially curated specifically to identify Italian American soldiers in occupied Europe near the close of World War II who communicated with family members and friends in the United States.

American GIs commenting on longings for home, but, moreover, topics such as fascism, sympathy for the Italian people, Italy’s manipulation by a corrupt German regime, Italian culture and religion, health and medical conditions in war-torn Europe, and race in both the United States and Italy.

Lead: Dr. William Cumiford

This project provides a window into a “peoples history” that analyzes the impressions of Italian.

Offices Collaborating: Andrew Carroll, Director of the Center of American War Letters, Leatherby Libraries, Chapman University, Lauren McDaniel, Archivist.